For her lead single off of The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift put together a music video full of art history references, callbacks to the showgirls of the past, tons of familiar faces, and several nods to her personal life (her own sourdough bread, a football, etc).
In behind-the-scenes clips shared during The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, the artist let viewers into the world-building set design, choreography, and storytelling of the video. Now, the artists behind the project’s costume design have started sharing their own BTS footage of making Swift’s iconic looks. Ahead, we break down each outfit, styled by Joseph Cassell.
Alberta Ferretti’s Shakespearean Oil Painting
In the opening shot, Swift transforms into an oil painting of the song’s namesake, not unlike Friedrich Wilhelm Theodor Heyser’s Ophelia (1900). Lying in a riverbed with an arm outstretched, she recreates the piece in pose and fashion, wearing a similar long white gown and singing herself to eternal sleep. In the painting, the fabric appears tinted with the river, and to accomplish a similar look, Alberta Ferretti designer Lorenzo Serafini crafted a custom tea-stained georgette gown with long, dramatic sleeves and a ruffled hem.
Versace’s Take on Marilyn Monroe
Waking from Ophelia’s tragic death—changing her fate—Swift transforms into Marilyn Monroe, heading straight for the changing room in a bedazzled red bodysuit and bleach-blonde wig in short, tight curls. Along with her backup dancers, all matching in custom Versace looks, she dresses her arms in opera gloves and adorns her neck and ears with Lorraine Schwartz jewels. They all accessorize further with sparkly red garters and matching Jimmy Choo heels.
Roberto Cavalli’s Chainmail Cabaret
From here, she jumps ahead a decade for a Ronettes-style cabaret moment, performing as part of a three-person girl group in matching black chainmail dresses by Roberto Cavalli. Designed with crystal-studded chokers and a halter-neck silhouette, the sculptural pieces were crafted with metallic teal-blue leather diamonds and jeweled panther motifs. Swift pairs the dress with Jennifer Behr sapphire earrings and a brunette wig.
Paolo Sebastian’s Bleeding Heart
For the striking boat scene, where Swift portrays a stage actress tossed from a moving ship to drown in the ocean (very Ophelia), Cassell tapped designer Paolo Sebastian for an equally as striking gown. Designed with an exposed corset and mini cage crinoline, the long-sleeve piece was hand beaded with crystals and embellished with a heart and arrow design from the label’s A Lover’s Kiss collection. In the video, Swift wears it with a long red wig.
AREA’s Busby Berkeley Blues
In one of the most fun scenes, Swift joins dozens of dancers dressed as synchronized swimmers for an icy-blue Busby Berkeley-inspired routine. AREA was behind the custom sparkly bodysuits, which came with matching sequined swim caps and pom-pom shawls reminiscent of Nicholas Aburn’s debut collection designs.
Covered in Roberto Cavalli Ropes
Switching things up, Swift’s second Roberto Cavalli look is a take on Fausto Puglisi’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection. An embroidered gown woven from cords and adorned with gold-toned crystals, the piece matches the ropes around her, which lift her up into the next scene. She pairs the piece with a brown wig, and a movie poster for Sequins are Forever starring Kitty Finaly (a reference to the title track with Sabrina Carpenter) hangs behind her.
Bob Mackie’s Showgirl Magic
For her most classic showgirl look, Swift wears a bedazzled set by the one and only Bob Mackie, the king of Vegas costume design. Also used as the cover art for The Official Release Party of a Showgirl movie poster, she matches the other dancers in orange feathered headpieces and crystals galore.
A Kelsey Randall After Party
For the Eras Tour-inspired hotel after-party, Swift brings together her entire tour family for a dazzling penultimate scene. Her custom chainmail dress, designed by Kelsey Randall, was crafted with rhinestones and fringe, and in the scene, she wears it with a teal fur jacket slightly reminiscent of her closing tour look. Cue the emotions.
The AREA Album Cover
Ending things where we began, Swift recreats her album cover, sparkling in a crystallized AREA minidress while soaking—not drowning—in a teal tub. Tragic fate avoided.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.harpersbazaar.com ’
